Morris tribune., 1887-01-05
a INDUSTRIAL TOPICS.
What Portions of the Farm
Should Receive a Liberal
Amount of Manure.
Kinds Of Live Stock that Most Farmers
Will Find No Profit in Raising.
Rich NIanuring.


Observations in various parts Of the
west says The chicago Times, show
that the majority of farmers scatter
the manure obtained from their barns
and feeding-yards over all the land
they cultivate, without much regard to
the crop they intend to raise. If they
keep considerable stock and cultivate
but a few acres the land is we'll manur-
ed. If they keep but small number
of animals, are at little pains to save
Their droppjngs, and have a large
amount of land under cultivation. each
acre receives bat small quantity of
stable manure. In some cases the
amount applied is so small that it can
scarcely be noticed after it is spread
over the surface of the ground. In the
attempt to enrich all the land that is to
be plowed no portion of it receives
enough manure to make any marked
increase in the yield of the crop plant
ed. The garden spot, and the fields
that are to be devoted to the production
of corn, potatoes, and small grains arc
all sited by the dung-cart, and all re-
ceive some of its contents, but none Of
them are fertilized to an extent that
will insure very large crops. Any
amount of manure; however small i; is,
of course of advantage to land. 1t
restores some of the elements of fertil-
ity that were removed by growing the
last crop. 1t prevents it from becom-
ing less productive year by year, as is
likely to be the case when no manure
is applied. If the amount of manure
that is applied to a piece of land one
season is only equal in value to the
amount of the fertilizing material that
was consumed in producing the last
crop, the soil receives no permanent
benefit. Neither will the quantity nor
quality of the crop be improved. Only
by high manuring can the soil be inn
proved for a series of years and made
to produce crops that are both large and
of excellent quality.
1t is folly to expect to raise certain
crops unless the soil where they are
planted is very rich. Western farmers
generally fail to make their gardens
profitable or to raise superior vegeta-
bles in them for the reason that they
do not apply u sufficient amount Of
suitable manure to them. They put no
more manure on an acre of land that
is intended to produce roots, tomatoes,
squashes, cucumbers, onions. cabbage,
and cauliffiower than they do on the
same amount of land that is intended
to produce corn. They seem to forget,
or not to be aware, of the fact that
nearly all garden products are very
gross feeders. They also appear to be
ignorant of the fact that vegetables in
order to be of superior quality must be
quickly grown, and that rapid growth
is chiefly produced by large amount
of fertilizing material in the soil.
Gardeners. who make a business of
raising vegetables for the city market.
appreciate the value of manure. The
land they till resembles dung heap
or the barn-yard of lazy farmer who
has made himself think that it does not
pay 10 haul manure into the fields.
They aim to bring load of manure to
their gardens every time they take a
load of vegetables to market. They
never seem to think that their land is
quite rich enough. Farmers who raise
sweet corn and tomatoes for canning
establishments and cucumbers and
cauliflowers for pickle factories appre-
ciate the value of high manuring.
They have learned from experience or
from their neighbors who have been
long in the bus ness. They understand
that they can double the product of
their land bv the judicious application
of fertilizers, and that there is great
say NC of labor in having a few acres
under cult vation. They have also
learned that crops on highly manured
land mature early, are of superior quail
ity, and bring better price than those
raised on poor soil.
All land intended to produce crops
that require much cultivation should
be very highly manured. Especially is
this the case with those that must
be thinned out by hand, transplanted,
or worked with hand hoe. Among
these plants are onions, beets, carrots,
tomatoes, cabbage, and caulitlower.
A large amount of hand work is re-
quired to raise any of these vegetables.
and on that account the sol should be
made to produce as much as possible.
The requirements of the garden in the
matter of fertilizers should be first at
tended to, and then those of the land
is to be devoted 10 the production of
carrots, beets, cabbage, and pumpkins
for feeding to stock. Most of the ma
nure rema ming should then he applied
to fields in which cultivated crops, like
corn and potatoes, are to be raised. A
field which by the application of suffi-
cient amount of manure, will produce
eighty bushels of corn per acre will re-
quire no more labor in cultivation than
one that will produce only thirty BUSH
els. The work of blowing, narrowing.
and planting will be the same. 1t IS
easier to husk large ears of corn than
small ones, while the quality of the
gra on the former will be superior.
There is economy in manuring land that
is to be planted to corn very highly.
Land devoted to potatoes should be
rich, as this crop calls for large
amount of hard work. Especially is
high manur,ng desirable in parts of the
country where potatoes are not regard
ed as very sure crop, on account of
pecularities of the climate or soil.
Ground intended for early potatoes in
any part of the country should be rich,
in order 10 have the crop mature as
early as possible, those that are ready
to be dug first bringing the highest
price in the market. If any portions of
the farm are to 60 ,thout dressing of
manure, those devoted to grass and
small grains should be chosen, as these
crops are not cultivated, while they are
harvested by machinery.
Good Things to Avoid.
When the prices of nearly all farm
products are as low as they are ut
present, says The Chicago Times, it is
hut n a tnral that fnrn1nrs should look